[kopiteinkc]

According to Soccernet:

Vladimir Smicer will definitely miss Liverpool's next two games after breaking his toe on international duty.

The Czech international was injured in the first minute of the Czech Republic's 5-0 friendly win over Yugoslavia.

And he has been ruled out of Liverpool's game against Birmingham and the trip to Bolton in the Premiership this week.

And the Reds fear Smicer, who scored for the Czechs in the win against Yugoslavia despite his injury, will be out for longer.

'It happened when I made the first tackle of the match,' Smicer told Liverpool's official website. 'My toe was already broken when I struck the goal.'

The former Lens player started Liverpool's last game, the 2-2 draw with Newcastle, so El Hadji Diouf - a substitute against the Magpies - and Emile Heskey, who played in midfield then, will be in competition to partner Michael Owen in attack.

Kind of ironic after Houllier's statements about international friendlies.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Proves his point rather well doesn't it.

[Matt Clark]

Yeah, but let's face it - he could never have seen this coming. This was a freak occurence, unlikely ever to be repeated again. Look -

'It happened when I made the first tackle of the match,' Smicer told Liverpool's official website. 'My toe was already broken when I struck the goal.'